Thus Alexander having subdued so many nations, was at last obliged to yield to the instances of his soldiers, and to think of returning back to Macedon. He entered Babylon in triumph, and spent much of his time, while there, in feasting and drinking. The excesses he committed, at times deranged his mind, and in one fit of intoxication he killed a faithful old friend named Clitus: many more of his actions were totally unworthy of a prince who assumed the name of Great, this appellation was certainly bestowed upon him rather for his extensive conquests, than for any benefits his subjects derived from his reign, nor could Good with any propriety have been added to the title of Great.

He at length, fell a victim to his intemperance in the thirty-third year of his age, about 323 years before Christ. Leaving no proper person to succeed him; four of his generals, after many disputes and battles divided his extensive dominions among themselves. To relate the particular histories of these kingdoms would engross too much of our time; I shall therefore proceed to the Roman Empire which was the fourth universal monarchy; and was founded by Romulus about 752 years before Christ. Perhaps a short account of its origin will be entertaining to you.

Romulus and Remus were the twin sons of a lady named Rhea Sylvia. As soon as they were born they were condemned by their cruel uncle Amulius king of Alba (in Italy) to be thrown into the Tiber, this was executed, but they were found and preserved by a herdsman named Faustulus, who brought them up as his own sons till they arrived at years of discretion; when becoming acquainted with the history of their birth, they determined to dethrone their wicked uncle Amulius, and restore their grandfather Numitor to the crown his brother had unjustly deprived him of. They succeeded, and then formed a plan for building themselves a city, among those hills on which they had spent their earliest years. They could not, however, agree concerning the best situation for it, but the opinion of Romulus at length prevailing, Remus, to vex his brother, leaped contemptuously over the city wall: this so irritated Romulus that a violent quarrel ensued, they fought, and either by accident or design Romulus killed his brother, and then the whole government of the new state devolved upon himself: it was called Rome after its founder. Inhabitants flocked from every part of the surrounding country into the new city, and it soon became a very considerable kingdom. After the death of Romulus six other kings succeeded to the throne all of whom, excepting the last, were great and good men, their names were,

Romulus the Founder,
Numa Pompilius,
Tullus Hostilius,
Ancus Martius,
Tarquinius Priscus,
Servius Tullius, and
Tarquinius Superbus.

Under whom ended the regal state. A Commonwealth ensued. Many great men flourished during this period: but at length the government changed once more, and Rome became an empire. The first twelve emperors were distinguished by the appellation of the twelve Cæsars, their names were

Julius Cæsar, the first Roman emperor.

Augustus, in whose reign our Saviour Jesus Christ came into the world.

Tiberius,
Caligula,
Claudius,
Nero,
Sergius Galba,
Otho,
Vitellius,
Vespasian,
Titus, and
Domitian.

Many emperors succeeded these, until Constantine the Great, the 41st emperor, removed the seat of empire from Rome to Constantinople, which, before his time, was called Byzantium. Constantine was a very good man, and was the first Roman emperor who embraced the Christian religion, but he pursued a system of politics that hastened the destruction of the empire. After his death the sovereignty was divided between his sons, and soon after Rome, which had once given laws to the world, became a prey to merciless barbarians, and sunk into comparative insignificance.